Associations of post-warming embryo or blastocyst development with clinical pregnancy in vitrified embryo or blastocyst transfer cycles

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether the degree of post-warming embryo or blastocyst development is associated with clinical pregnancy in vitrified embryo or blastocyst transfer cycles.Methods: Ninety-six vitrified cleavage-stage embryos and 58 vitrified blastocyst transfer cycles were selected. All transfer cycles were performed from February 2011 to March 2019, and all vitrified embryos or blastocysts were warmed from 4 PM to 6 PM and then transferred the next morning from 9 AM to 10 AM. The scores of the cleavage-stage embryos and blastocysts were assessed at warming and at transfer using the modified Steer method and the Gardner method, respectively. The mean embryo or blastocyst score, score of the single top-quality embryo or blastocyst, and the difference in the score between warming and transfer were compared between nonpregnant and pregnant women.Results: In the cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles, both the top-quality embryo score at transfer and the difference in the score between warming and transfer were significantly associated with clinical pregnancy. A top-quality embryo score at transfer of ≥60.0 (area under the curve [AUC], 0.673; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.531–0.815) and a difference in the score between warming and transfer of ≥23.0 (AUC, 0.675; 95% CI, 0.514–0.835) were significant predictors of clinical pregnancy. In blastocyst transfer cycles, the top-quality blastocyst score at transfer was the only significant factor associated with clinical pregnancy. A top-quality blastocyst score at transfer of ≥38.3 was a significant predictor of clinical pregnancy (AUC, 0.666; 95% CI, 0.525–0.807).Conclusion: The top-quality embryo score at transfer and the degree of post-warming embryo development were associated with clinical pregnancy in vitrified cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles. In vitrified blastocyst transfer cycles, the top-quality blastocyst score at transfer was the only significant factor affecting clinical pregnancy.

Post-warming embryo morphology is associated with live birth: a cohort study of single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer cycles

“…Previous studies that examined post-warming characteristics have had several limitations; some included cycles in which two or more embryos were transferred [10,12,16]. Hence, it was impossible to correlate specific characteristics with cycle outcome.…”

“…Hence, it was impossible to correlate specific characteristics with cycle outcome. Hong et al included cycles with cleavage stage embryo transfer [16], in which post-warming reexpansion could not be assessed. Most studies did not report the live birth rate [10,11,14,16].…”

“…Hong et al included cycles with cleavage stage embryo transfer [16], in which post-warming reexpansion could not be assessed. Most studies did not report the live birth rate [10,11,14,16]. Finally, to the best of our knowledge, the predictive value of post-warming embryo characteristics has not been evaluated in euploid embryos after preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A).…”

The Significance of Planned Fertility Preservation for Women With Endometrioma Before an Expected Ovarian Cystectomy

“…The mean embryo score (MES) and the number of good embryos were calculated as parameters for additional analysis in cases of embryo cryopreservation. The scoring methods were adapted from a previous paper ( 28 ). Briefly, the score for cleavage-stage embryos was based on the Steer method ( 29 ).…”

“…The scores for both the inner cell mass and the trophectoderm were assigned separately based on their grade, which were as follows: A=3, B=2, and C=1. The overall scoring method followed that of the previous paper ( 28 ).…”